Technical information

4.7. The all-electric eCitaro (rigid and articulated)

The Mercedes-Benz eCitaro with all-electric drive produces zero local emissions, near-zero noise
emissions and raises the standard for electric mobility in the city bus segment to a new level.
With this city bus, Mercedes-Benz is tackling the increasing scarcity of fossil fuels and stricter
emission regulations.

4.7.1. Engineering

The eCitaro is driven by electric wheel hub motors on the driven axle. The peak output of the
motors amounts to 2 x 125 kW, with a total torque of 2 x 485 Nm. Thanks to system design, this
is fully available from a standing start and ensures appreciable dynamic performance even with
maximum occupancy.
Lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of up to 440 kWh supply the power. These are
integrated into a maximum of twelve modules. In addition to up to eight battery modules on the
vehicle roof, four modules in the rear end also form part of the standard specification.

The energy consumption of an all-electric city bus is heavily influenced by the amount of power
required to cool and, above all, to heat the large interior. For this reason, thermal management is
one of the prominent features of the eCitaro: extraordinary energy performance provides the
basis for the practical range that it can achieve.
To save energy, the passenger compartment of the eCitaro is heated by a heat pump. This is
supplemented by the customary floor heater blowers and the front heater.
All components that give off heat are interconnected in order to reduce the amount of energy
required to cool them to a minimum. In the cold periods of the year, the roof-mounted air-
conditioning system also acts as a heat pump. The use of CO2 refrigerant delivers further
benefits, making an impressive contribution to the particularly efficient operation of the heat
pump, even at very low temperatures.
Another plus: even while the batteries are charging in the depot, the interior can be
preconditioned to the desired temperature or even overconditioned. In this way, the bus can
start its route already heated or cooled.

Danger.
Risk of fatal injury from touching unprotected or damaged components of the high-
voltage on-board power supply. Doing so could lead to burns, ventricular fibrillation or
cardiac arrest caused by electric shock.
 Before components of the high-voltage on-board power supply are touched, the high-
voltage on-board power supply must be de-energised, refer to section 4.6.4.

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Layout of components, eCitaro

1 Charging socket (outside right) 6 Drive and braking resistor inverter-converter unit 11 Air-conditioning compressor
2 Charging contactors, charging rail 7 Ancillaries power inverter 12 Air-conditioning system
(option)
3 HV fuse box 8 Electric wheel hub motors 13 HV lines (orange)
4 Roof-mounted HV batteries 9 Braking resistor 14 Emergency OFF switch on
5 Major assembly compartment 10 Pneumatic compressor charging socket (optionally in the
HV batteries battery compartment)

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Layout of components, eCitaro G

1 Charging socket (outside right) 6 Drive and braking resistor inverter-converter unit 11 Air-conditioning compressor
2 Charging contactors, charging rail 7 Ancillaries power inverter 12 Air-conditioning system
(option)
3 HV fuse box 8 Electric wheel hub motors 13 HV lines (orange)
4 Roof-mounted HV batteries 9 Braking resistor 14 Emergency OFF switch on
5 Major assembly compartment 10 Pneumatic compressor charging socket (optionally in the
HV batteries battery compartment)

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4.7.2. Materials

All power cables that carry a voltage of more

than 60 volts are coloured orange or sheathed
in an orange-coloured corrugated hose.

The components and lines of the high-voltage system (up to 750 V) are located:
• on the vehicle roof (high-voltage lines on the left-hand side of the vehicle),
• in the major assembly compartment (formerly the engine compartment) and
• on the rear axle and, if applicable, the centre axle.

All high-voltage components are identified by the warning sign for electricity (1).

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4.7.3. De-energising the high-voltage system

The high-voltage system of the vehicle can be de-energised by the following measures:

1. Operate the emergency-off switch to the left of the

driver’s station (1) or
1
2. Operate the emergency-off switch behind the flap of
the charging socket (2).

Caution!
Frequent deactivation of the HV system by
emergency-off switch leads to premature ageing 2
of HV components.
 Operate emergency-off switches only in
emergencies (e.g. accidents with damaged
HV parts).

With both variants, an active rapid discharge of the

high-voltage system takes place within 5 seconds.

Danger.
Risk of fatal injury from touching unprotected or damaged components of the high-
voltage on-board power supply. In the event of rapid discharge disruption, the high-
voltage system is discharged passively within 7 minutes. After this time, the vehicle is
safely de-energised. The high-voltage batteries still contain voltage!
 If the state of the high-voltage system is uncertain, wait 7 minutes after switch-off
before you work on high-voltage components.
 If the use of extinguishing media is required, always maintain the appropriate safety
distance (refer to DIN VDE 0132, “Firefighting and technical assistance in or near
electrical installations”).

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Danger. 3

Risk of fatal injury from touching energy sources

that could still be live.
 If applicable, interrupt the charging process
using pushbutton (3) on the charging socket
and pull the charging connector.

 If applicable, retract the roof-mounted

collector.

24 V on-board power supply

For safe isolation of the on-board battery, turn the battery

isolating switch in the battery compartment to the
“OFF” position, refer to section 5.2.1.

Always switch off the HV on-board power supply first (emergency-off switch), and then
disconnect the 24 V on-board batteries. Otherwise, the 24 V on-board power supply
remains active and the rapid discharging of the HV on-board power supply will not be
possible.

40 Guidelines for Rescue Services for Mercedes-Benz Buses